Mahalaya by Tapes Chakraborty

Not every song from Mahalaya lingers, but Mahalaya is the one that stays. What makes Mahalaya musically distinctive is the composition by Tapes Chakraborty, which balances simplicity with depth.

Tapes Chakraborty delivers the lyrics with a nuance that turns an already strong song into something genuinely moving. Hearing Mahalaya without thinking of a talented ensemble cast is almost impossible for anyone who has seen Mahalaya.

By the end of 2019, Mahalaya had moved well beyond its original audience and into everyday playlists. It fits the playlist for almost any occasion, which is rare — most songs have a narrow emotional window. This one does not.

Running to 4:29, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. Years from now, Mahalaya will still be the track that plays at the right moment and lands exactly as it did the first time.